UMCDC's work is research-based and grounded in socio-cultural and constructivist theories.

Infant and toddler teaching staff are trained through materials and vignettes from the Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC), which follows an approach that is responsive to what infants and toddlers and their families bring to care and emphasizes relationship-based implementation strategies. The goal of PITC is to help infant/toddler care teachers recognize the crucial importance of giving tender, loving care and assisting in the infants’ intellectual development through an attentive reading of each child’s cues. UMCDC has three certified trainers in PITC.

The following areas are embedded in curriculum interactions, communication, family partnerships, center philosophy:

Social and Emotional Growth and Socialization:

• Social-emotional milestones
• Responsive caregiving
• Temperament and individual differences in group care
• Meeting children’s emotional needs
• Guidance and discipline with infants and toddlers in group care

Group Care

• Primary care and continuity of care
• Group size and individualization of care
• Setting up environments for infants and toddlers
• Daily routines in group care settings

Learning and Development

• Cognitive development and learning
• Language development and communication
• Special needs
• Culture, language, and cognition
• Brain development in infancy

Culture, Family, and Providers

• Self-awareness and cultural perceptions
• Culturally responsive care
• Using the process of Acknowledge, Ask, and Adapt
• Culture and Early Identity Formation
• Creating partnerships with parents

As stated above, teaching staff are trained in the above areas, not just at initial hired-on training, but throughout the year.

Teacher Training

Teaching staff undergo an extensive three-week training upon hiring. Many other “quality” centers do not provide this extensive training. Areas of training include:

• Child Growth and Development
• Family and Community Relationships
• Observation and Assessment
• Environment and Curriculum
• Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Professionalism and Leadership
• Administration and Management (Area Coordinators, this position also requires a Masters of Education at CDC).

UMCDC is inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia and Pistoia, Italy. Broadly speaking, the theoretical orientation of the UMCDC is drawn from: Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, Urie Bronfenbrenner, Alice Sterling Honig, Janet Gonzalez-Mena (PITC), Lilian Katz, Kyle Pruett, Alison Gopnik, Carlina Rinaldi (Reggio), J. Ronald Lally & Peter Mangione.